Track Test: Is The Hyundai Genesis Coupe Really A Mustang Killer?

The big three magazines all compared the new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe to the Mustang. Some even went so far off the deep-end as to call it a “Mustang Killer”. Given that kind of fawning we here at The MustangNews arranged for a track session with the new pony-car from Hyundai to see what the competition really has up its sleeve. 
Why compare the Genesis Coupe to the Mustang you might ask? Hyundai is from Korea right? It screams rice like the knife wielding chef at your local sushi bar right? Well we are just going on what the major automotive print magazines have said, you know “Mustang Killer”. So this little test is as much on the car as it is on them.

We tested both a base Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T 210hp 4-cylinder turbo as well as a full gob Genesis Coupe “Track” model with a 306hp 3.8 V6. Both models are priced right in the Mustang’s sweet spot for comparative models, which also power in at about the same rungs with horsepower. The base Genesis Coupe starts about $22,000 with a fully decked V6 costing upwards of about $33,000. Approximate size and weight is similar. They both have rear wheel drive, though the Genesis Coupe does offer a modern-day independent rear suspension. So why not compare them?

Our first impression of the Genesis Coupe is the contemporary sports car styling. It may not be for blue blood muscle car fans but it does impress you with a curb appeal that sets your expectations up for the drive. Unfortunately those expections are met with a different reality once you fire it up and head out onto the track. While the car is well refined and a major step up for Hyundai, it 's no sports car in the soulful realm. Both engines sound like your garden variety Hyundai Elantra, that is like an over muffled chainsaw.


There is no raspy exciting exhaust note to pet your senses. On the 2.0T base model the only thing the turbo gives you is lag. You don’t even get a racy turbo whistle or that bump in the back from the boost curve. Though the V6 impresses on the spec sheet with 306hp, its lack of torque leaves you without any sense of urgency off the line. In fact you rev it way up toward the redline before it begins to reward you. But unfortunately the power curve is so linear you are never quite sure when the peak came. It’s like a slot machine you keep feeding all night but never pays off more than a few coins at a time.

On the positive side, Hyundai can be commended by offering both the base engine 2.0T and the top-line 3.8 V6 with the “Track” package which includes large Brembo brakes, 19” wheels and rubber, a Torsen limited slip differential and a track tuned suspension. It would be nice if you could docket up a Mustang V6 with some serious chassis bits as well. So in some ways they are offering customers good options that are appealing for shoppers that cant spend $30,000 or more.

Unfortunately even the “Track” model had nebulous handling with little feedback and understeer that surprised us given the amount of expensive rubber on those 19” wheels. You could overcome the understeer easily however with the throttle. But the overactive stability/traction control steps in so fast to arrest your drift, it points you right back into understeer. It’s an on-off-on-off sensation that takes all the fun out of it. Yes, turn it off....we know. But even the Mustang’s stability control lets you tow the edge a bit before shutting you down like an errant child.

What is most disappointing is that we drove the car before knowing it had the top-level handling package. The whole time on the track I kept thinking that it needed stiffer springs, bushings, shocks and roll bars to take the Buick-ness away. But then we found out it already had what Hyundai considers the extreme suspension. Even this “Track” model lacked the kind of sharpness and crispness that even a standard Mustang GT offers with its much maligned live axle.

Lastly there is the interior cabin. It’s exactly as you might expect in the way of quality, fit and finish. There is little to complain about, but little to rave about. The colors, shapes and design are on the same level of any Asian economy sedan which is to say not that moving. There are of course all the standard power features, great stereo with Ipod jack, information center, etc. What isn’t there is excitement or emotional appeal.

So is the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe a “Mustang Killer?” Perhaps it is if you are already predisposed to Asian cars, eat tofu, and get your car advice from Consumer Reports. It's a posuer car for the automotive unwashed because beyond the flashy looks, lap-dog magazine write-ups, and spec sheet shine this is just another Hyundai econo-box.

Bottom line is that if you want a Nissan 370Z but can't afford one, the Genesis Coupe might be right up your alley. But it’s highly unlikely that anyone turned on by the romp stomping kick in the ass you get from the feel and sound of the Mustang’s V8 will be turned on after driving this car. It's highly unlikely than anyone who has drifted around the track, engine roaring, tires smoking would be intellectually honest calling this car a “Mustang Killer”. It makes for a good selling magazine cover though.